** The ACLU is on its annual nativity rampage.
** Nursing homes have to remove their Christmas trees.
**School's can't see a Charlie Brown Christmas because Linus quotes from that book.
Okay, it's not just because it's Christmas.
** A national coach of the year nominee was canned for praying with an injured opponent and watching movies that contained religious themes with his team (yeah, that book was mentioned in those movies, too).
**Atheists want a statue of Jesus removed from a ski resort.
** West Point cadet has checked out six months before graduating claiming that he endured unconstitutional proselytism from the officers there. Considering proselytism is nowhere even remotely discussed in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, one wonders what really went on. Did they threaten beheading? When atheists say "Boo!," citizen's government officials cower.
"What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me
and went after worthlessness,
and became worthless?"
In light of this animosity toward anything within fifteen feet of that book, the Bible, what will become of the holidays? Really, not much else because Christmas in America has become meaningless.
Consider. The day the Church decided to celebrate the birth of Christ has become an excuse for materialistic excess that moves most companies into the fiscal black. Christmas makes money! Why on earth would we curtail or readdress this buying binge?
The story of the event that precipitated the holiday, God in a manger, that man's rebellion required God's provision of himself, has all but vanished. You'll not find that message in any of my favorite Christmas shows (Grinch (animated and otherwise), Rudolph, It's a Wonderful Life) except Charlie Brown's. Instead, we're sold something as substantial and satisfying as last year's Christmas trinkets.
Even the saint who has become tied to the holiday has been turned into a cartoon character and his real story largely forgotten. The name Christmas* remains, but few know that the word refers to the church service commemorating Jesus' birth. Few consider that holiday comes from holy day, a day set aside for some religious observance.
"They did not say, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt...'"
But with all of that, there is great hope. With the truth of Christmas being syphoned away from the American psyche, Christmas is going nowhere. To quote the Grinch (even though after his heart grew three sizes that day, he still didn't get it), it's not "packages, boxes, or bags." Also, God never mandated that it be a national celebration. We have enjoyed the twilight of a nation that was born with a love for the Lord. That love is now all but dead. This is no longer a Christian nation so it should not surprise us that its entertainment industry, its schools, and its government have driven God from its presence.
"Why do you contend with me?
You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD."
No atheist can revise the fact that God did enter the world in flesh over two thousand years ago. No holiday fiction can change that man's heart is deceitfully wicked and in rebellion against a holy God. No mountain of presents can rival a God in a farm trough or God on a cross.
The truth of the opening pages of Matthew's, Luke's, and John's gospels cannot and will not be eradicated by the ACLU nor obscured by Frosty the Snowman. What has happened in history cannot be altered. Therefore, let us truly rejoice in the God who so loved his unloveable creation that he sent his Son to die on their behalf that they might be restored in fellowship and in family to him.
This God still stands in the middle of a crowded and indifferent world declaring,
"Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD.
I will not look on you in anger,
for I am merciful, declares the LORD;
I will not be angry forever.
Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you rebelled against the LORD your God...
and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD.
Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD;
for I am your master."
In these darkening days, have yourself a merry, little Christmas rejoicing that your God has given you ears to hear the call of his voice. Remember what he's done for you, for me.
-----------------------------
* Please don't get too knotted about people using X-mas. It originally did not mean to obscure Christ but to actually represent him. X is the Greek letter chi which is the first letter of Cristos or Christ. It's usage goes back hundreds of years and was first used as such by the church. So if you see "Merry Xmas," smile and thank God.
Note: Scripture cited above comes from Jeremiah 2:5,6, 29, 3:12-14
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